How many thousands of childhood immunizations, meals for malnourished children, vials of medicine, articles of clothing and hours of care could have been provided to those in need, rather than for the costs of food, clothing, shelter, speech therapy, tutoring, legal defense, and more of one man charged in the death of Brittany Binger in James City County in 2005?

Orlando response

Once again, we've had a mass shooting event in this country, and once again the response from the Republican-controlled Congress is a prayer and a moment of silence. What this country needs is a Congress that is not afraid of the NRA.

1. The worst massacre in US history actually occurred December 29, 1890, when 297 Lakota Indians were slaughtered at Wounded Knee, SD. 2. Our president is deluded if he expects us to believe that The Pulse is "a place of solidarity and empowerment where people came…to advocate civil rights." 3. Guns were not the root cause; radical Islamic ideology was, and will continue to be.

On Monday, June 13 Donald Trump called for a ban on people from areas of the world with a history of terrorists acts visiting the US. Since the British burned the White House during the War of 1812, which was clearly an act of terrorism, I guess Trump would bans Brits from the U.S.

Orlando is not a gun control issue. We are at war with an ideology that wants to kill all of us. To think that additional gun control laws are going to keep assault weapons out of the hands of terrorist is at best naive. All they will do is prevent citizens from protecting themselves. The outcome in Orlando could have been a lot different if the bartender or a patron had been armed.

Bathrooms

Liberals should worry less about who can go in which bathroom and worry more about eradicating the evil that is ISIL.

Landmark to close

As many of you know, Queen Anne Dairy Snack is a milkshake joint on route 143. It has been open since 1951. Queen Anne has wonderful food, desserts, and is located in a visible location. People come from all over to try Queen Anne. Kids, parents, grandparents, the rich, and the poor love Queen Anne. Bruce Hornsby even wrote a song called "The Dreaded Spoon" about Queen Anne. Today, we heard it is being forced to close because of the building age and electrical issues. I understand this will close July 30th. This is so disheartening! Is this true? What can we as a community do to help save this wonderful landmark?

Road work, etc.

It would be nice if, when they are resurfacing the roads next to a school, the road crews could wait to close the major intersection rerouting traffic until after the bell rings. Or maybe even wait a week until school is out. Our three minute drive to school took 20 minutes today.

I was walking on Ironbound Road on the sidewalk along the Meadows subdivision, when I saw so many weeds between the sidewalk and the road. Isn't James City County or VDOT supposed to mow these weeds? We are paying taxes in this community. The weeds are all along Ironbound Road. Thank you. [I called this lady to get this right. She asked if it would be in the paper on Saturday. I told her that was your decision.]

Kudos to VDOT - I reported two deep potholes on the edge of my small road in James City County recently. The woman on the phone was very friendly and helpful and the potholes were repaired within a couple of days. Great work!

The person stating that DMV says you can turn right on red only if a sign says so has it backward. The DMV driving manual says you may turn right on red unless there is a sign prohibiting it.

To all our good friends driving down Mooretown Road at 25 miles an hour: You can drive on Richmond Road at 25 miles an hour so that the people on Mooretown can travel the 55 miles an hour so they can get to work on time. Please keep that in mind, good friend.

The timing of the traffic lights, just on Monticello alone, is amazingly awful. Vehicles making left turns are forced to wait while no traffic is coming the other way. And, the light should stay green as long as traffic is tripping the switch. Only a few cars can make it through before it starts to change. Please fix this mess.

Time of need

Last week our senior dog was having breathing problems. Although it was after 7 p.m., I called our vet at Middle Plantation Vet Hospital. Dr. Dunsmore was still there with another patient. Rather than go all the way to York County to the emergency vet, she said to come and they would see him there now! Sadly, we had to put him to sleep. Fortunately for us, the whole team there was supportive and stayed late for us. How wonderful it is to have such a good, caring team so close to us! Thanks so much!

Great send-off

Thank you, Dinda and Windsor Forest parents, for a perfect retirement send off. What a wonderful neighborhood to have driven a school bus in for 27 years. Such a reception Wednesday evening and what a delight to see many of my current and past school kids, some married, some from college, parents and grandparents, too. I will savor the memories forever. Thank you!

Recommended

For anyone searching for someone to power wash his/her home, look no further!! William of All Smiles Roof Cleaning and Power Wash power washed my roof, my entire home, my shed, my deck and my driveway for a great price. I was not home when he completed the work, so I called him the next morning to set up a time for him to come by to be paid. When he arrived, he said he was not completely satisfied with the driveway and did it again. Unbelievable work ethic! I give All Smiles my highest recommendation!

I wanted to reach out to Williamsburg Chauffeur Service and let them know that I have never received such superb service in this industry before. I want everyone to know that I experienced the best service I have ever received from Michelle with Williamsburg Chauffeur Service. I was first very hesitant at first when I saw that a young lady was going to be the chauffeur at my daughter's wedding, but she was absolutely the best. Very helpful, very courteous and very knowledgeable. After the wedding, Michelle transported my wife and me to the airport, and again I was astonished with this young lady. Thanks, Michelle, for going the extra mile for all your customers and taking such pride in what you do.

Based on another caller, I called Glen Ayres, 757-784-0774, for at-home maintenance of my lawn equipment. As was the experience of the former person, he was punctual, excellent, clean, had the job done in a rapid time, efficiently at a very, very reasonable cost. I would recommend him for maintenance of your lawn equipment.

I certainly appreciate it when people recommend services in the paper. It is one of the main things I subscribe to the paper for. However, in the last issue there were three recommended services and not one of them listed the phone number. The paper obviously has this phone number, and how easy it would be to include it when they call in. Thank you. Editor's note: Recommendations come from consumers, not businesses. If callers leave the contact information, we include with the post. If they don't, and you're interested, you'll need to look it up.

Award winner

Has the city Beautification Award permanently been awarded to one house on Jamestown Road? Surely, there are other houses worthy of this award. Thank you.

Engagement

My wife and I attended our grandson's Stepping Up Ceremony at Warhill High with 350 Students and 1500 or so family members. There was no Superintendent at the event. Why not? If he is so engaged in the families, why isn't he engaged with a packed house of students and family members?

Presidential politics

The misinformation in some Last Word items is appalling. Where has Hillary Clinton said she will "take all your guns"? Folks were saying the same thing about President Obama and what has happened? More guns have been sold in the last 8 years than ever. Where is the legislation to take your guns? What Clinton has said is that if you are on the airlines no-fly list because you are being investigated for terrorism by the FBI, you shouldn't be allowed to purchase a gun. That is the pending bill that the Republican Congress is blocking.

The New York Post reported that Hillary Clinton has been paid $21.7 million on speaking fees from 2013-2015. Besides Wall Street firms and Canadian companies, the list also includes the American Camping Association, American Society of Travel Agents, National Association of Realtors, National Automobile Dealers Association, Cardiovascular Research Foundation, Commercial Real Estate Women Network, Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers and so on. Fees ranged from $225,000 to $335,000 per event.

I've just read the Last Word. My comment is directed to the Editor of the Gazette and Last Word. I am very concerned about the tone of the comments regarding presidential politics. Not only are they not factual or helpful, but they are based innuendo, sarcasm and I believe there is no place in our paper for such comments. They only stoke the fires of divisiveness and partisanship.

Let's break it down, Bernie and Hillary supports are those who expect to get what Dr. Ben Carson calls "goodies." I was thought never to expect anything for free; work for what you get.

When will the Gazette Last Word stop presidential politics posts? None of the negative posts on either side are going to influence votes, nor is it a verifiable source of information. The Gazette offers local information of interest to Williamsburg residents; let's keep our politics local also.

Could someone please explain how Donald Trump's wall on the Mexican border is going to protect Americans from native-born terrorists like that man who shot up the bar in Orlando who was born in Queens, New York?

The GOP, which has become highly proficient at political gamesmanship, was soundly beaten at its own game by Donald Trump. The chief ingredient of this gamesmanship is character assassination. As thin skinned as the Republican candidates were, it was easy for The Donald to make quick work of them. Now he faces Hillary Clinton, who has been attacked unmercifully for over 20 years by the GOP. She has heard all the lies thrown at her for so long it doesn't faze her. The Donald has met his match. Kind of ironic!

Term limits

To those critics of the Constitution who think we should have term limits for Congress: Ask Randy Forbes. His loss means that he will not be returning to Congress next year. Therefore, we do have term limits.

Looking for ...

Does anyone know where to recycle old TVs at no charge?

Anyone interested in postcards from around the world and the United States? I have been collecting for about 30+ years. Interested parties can reach me at 757-565-1666.

I have a bedside commode that I would like to donate. Does anyone know of a place that will take it?

I lost my prescription sunglasses Monday, June 13, in either SteinMart (shoe department) or Michael's. Easy to spot; they have beige and red plaid ear pieces. Please call 757- 378-2858.

I am continuing to seek a place to have my papers shredded and to have the correct number for Williamsburg Storage. Thank you very much. Editor's note: We called a few numbers and this is the best one for Williamsburg Storage: 757-253-6575.

I'm hoping that the honest person who found my aquamarine birthstone ring is taking good care of it and, hopefully, will turn it to Martin's grocery store, where I lost it in May, either in the store or in the parking lot. You can bring it to customer service or call me personally at 876-7387. There is a reward. Thank you.

Anyone looking for Melissa, who used to work at David Sisk's office, is now working at the State Farm Office next to New York Deli.

Sharing the road

In response to the request for clarification about a group of cyclists taking an entire travel lane: Virginia law allows cyclists to ride two abreast, but also requires them to change to a single-file formation when other traffic wishes to pass them. Technically, a large group of people wishing to take an entire travel lane for some distance should apply for a special events permit. But such groups almost never do so and generally are not held accountable for that omission.

Jamestown coach retiring

In the past weeks, several announcements have been posted in the Gazette about coaches resigning, moving to new locations and retiring. One coach's exit has been all whispers and assumptions. Coach "Schlick" has inspired his runners, kept standards high, built morale and a team. He has set the bar high and the kids have fought to meet it. I would like to see him get the recognition and kudos he deserves and the kids on his team will miss him for the last few weeks and into the next few years. Coach Schlick, you will be missed.

In the Gazette

Yeah, I was wondering—where is this Sudoku problem--the solving problem? You have the crossword but not Sudoku. It's one of the reasons I subscribe to the Gazette. No, not totally, but would love to see it.

I was very excited to see crossword puzzles in The Virginia Gazette, one of my favorite newspapers, but the print is too just small and I cannot enjoy working it. I'm so sorry about that. Thank you. Editor's note: A few months back, we jumped through some hoops to make the type larger, but its small again, too small for my tired eyes. Let me see what we can do to get that right-sized again.

Ali

While I can agree on calling Mohammed Ali 'The Greatest" for his winning boxing record, we must stop there. Let's not forget that Ali was a draft dodger, so to praise him as "the Greatest" anything else would be disservice to our veterans.

Student voters

Several years ago, Williamsburg City Registrar Robert W. Davis said that William and Mary students were not permanent residents of the city and should not be permitted to vote here. They should vote in the jurisdiction where they came from. That was overturned in the court and the students were then given the right to vote in the city. Now a William and Mary student sits on City Council and another caller has said that students will at some time take over City Council and show us all how it should be done. Don't say we didn't ask for it, people.

Cost of poverty

I believe the more poverty we have will bring more crime and terrorism. St. Paul taught his followers to use the tithes and offerings to build and operate churches. Jesus taught to use the tithes to help people in need. I believe Paul got it all wrong because Jesus taught to lay up your treasures in Heaven and not on Earth.

Road rage incident

I read with interest the apprehension of the York road rage shooting. Good job, guys, but I was surprised that the perpetrator of this incident is only being charged with: Two counts of malicious wounding, two counts of the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, shooting from a vehicle, and reckless handling of a firearm. He shot two people in the head. What about attempted murder? Has our district attorneys gone soft? Clearly, this guy is a danger to the community and needs to be put away for a long time.

Tongue in cheek

The other day, I saw an ad in the newspaper about an old folks' home. It told of different ways they could help old people. It indicated a registered nurse was on duty five days per week. I do not know what to do because I need good care for seven days per week.

Drinking ice water

Help. How can I safely drink water from a glass of ice water in this climate? The glass puddles on the table, it drips on my clothes, it leaves water spots on my silk blouse and spots on my slacks. What can I do to prevent this? I do enjoy a glass of ice water but not the mess that it leaves. I would appreciate it if someone has some secret method. I wrapped a napkin around the bottom of the glass. Please help.